The Final Days Prophecies

[Benny]

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the flaws of the popular teachings of the last days prophecies cause and to demonstrate the gross distortion of scripture that must be done to the Bible to maintain these teachings. The pre-tribulation rapture theory is the one that is the most popular and is quite possibly the one of the most flawed scripturally. Its appeal is obvious. There are no scriptures that explain it quite so clearly these.

(2Ti 4:3 For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. 2Ti 4:4 And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths.)

By working on the vanity of Christians the pre-tribulation theory very slyly implies that Christians today need not suffer and die for their faith. The pre-trib theory implies that western Christians today are more perfect than those martyrs that died in the early church. There is nothing further from the truth. Those men who wrote the New Testament and most of the early church had to go through tremendous tribulation and most of them eventually died for their faith. It is extremely arrogant to even suggest that Christians today (especially western Christians) are somehow more deserving than they. It is arrogant pride to even suggest that western Christians today should be able to live a peaceful, happy life to be suddenly raptured up because they are so perfect before God. This is an insult to Jesus and those Christians that died because they followed the Lords example and teachings.

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

When one ceases from sin or no longer commits sin they are perfect in God's eye's. It is through the suffering of the flesh for (Christ Jesus the word of God) that you are made perfect in him as St Peter and St Paul confirm here.

1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.



To understand the Bible you must be willing to hear the unvarnished truth. Very few so-called “Christians” are willing to hear the unvarnished truth. Thus we find the meaning of Christ's words “many are called but few chosen”. For those willing to hear his word certain principles must be held to. The first principle to understanding the bible, is to open your heart and mind for things you may find very painful to hear. The word of God is like a sword that cuts the flesh.(Heb 4:12)

The second principle to understanding the Bible is that the New Testament should be a Christians rule of faith, practice, government and discipline. If a person finds doctrine in the Old Testament, then it must also be taught by Jesus and his apostles in the New Testament. The reason for this is because Jesus came into the world not to condemn it, but that it might be saved through him. (John 3:17) He came preaching, love, mercy and forgiveness. And he came to reestablish the true intent of the Ten Commandments tempered with mercy and forgiveness. If one reads many the Laws of Moses given in the wilderness you will find very little mercy in them. If we were to followed some of those laws a man that is disobedient and disrespectful to his parents, or commits adultery would be condemned to death. (Deu 21:18-21, Lev 20:10) By the standards of Moses Laws, non of us would escape the death sentence. But Jesus taught us that God is willing to forgive us of the sins we commit against him, if we confess them, turn from those sins, or repent and we absolutely must forgive the sins that others commit against us. (Mt. 6:14,15) Today the teaching of forgiving others sins against us has been so rationalized and distorted by preachers and the organized church that it has become meaningless to most “Christians”. Many preachers tell us that it is acceptable to commit violence or even kill in war to preserve life and liberty. This is a distortion of the teachings that Jesus gave us concerning forgiveness. To teach that violence for any reason against others can be justified makes God's commandments through Christ meaningless. The verses “do violence to no man” (Lk 3:14) and “turn to him the other cheek” (Mt 5:39) must been completely ignored and thus is made meaningless. Jesus commanded that we should not judge others. He said judge not and condemn not. (Luke 6:37) Yet organized Christianity disobeys this commandment and arrogantly thinks it can judge and condemn others by going to war, or using violence to preserve material goods or political freedom. Paul and Peter makes it quite clear that slaves SHOULD NOT fight or do violence for political freedom. As a matter of fact Paul and Peter said that slaves should obey their masters in the flesh as long as that obedience it does not conflict with their first and greatest master Christ Jesus commands. (Eph 6:5, Col 3:22, 1Ti 6:1, Tit 2:9, 1Pet 2:18) This is only one example of the teachings of Christ that have been distorted so that they turn the literal meaning of Jesus words upside down and make them meaningless. Organized Christianity has been thoroughly Judaized and are now hypocritically following the Laws of Moses without the mercy and forgiveness that Jesus taught. I say hypocritically following the Laws of Moses because they are only ready to apply the judgments dictated by Moses Laws if that judgment does not include themselves. If they find themselves in jeopardy of judgment according to the Laws of Moses they immediately apply the principle of forgiveness that Jesus taught to their own sins against God and others. Because of this blind hypocrisy we refuse to apply those same principles to the forgiveness to other peoples perceived sins toward us. But my first purpose in this paper is to reveal the prophecies in the Bible of the last days. I only give this example to demonstrate the deceptions that pass for Bible teachings prevalent among Christians. Without a willingness to open your heart to the truth that our perceptions of God's word have been manipulated by the enemy, you will never accept nor even consider the truth of the last days prophecies.



The last principle to understanding the Bible is to harmonize the scriptures. This is especially important when studying Bible prophecy. God's word does not contradict itself, or it would be useless to us and not inspired by God at all. So to harmonize the scriptures on any subject or prophecy in the Bible one must study all the places in the Bible that the subject or prophecy is covered. An accurate understand of the prophecy will include all the different scriptures from the different books on that event. Our interpretation or understanding of that event cannot cause a contradiction in any of the scriptures or our understanding is flawed. This principle of harmonizing is essential to understanding bible prophecy. The scriptures should fit together at the specific points of a prophecy that will happen only once in history. In this case, the prophecies of the events leading up to the Lords coming to resurrect and catch away of the saints and what follows. For example, many scriptures in Daniel give us further understanding of the last days foretold by Jesus in Mathew chapter 24. And Paul gives us further understanding of Mathew 24 in 1st and 2nd Thessalonian's. John in Revelations gives us still further understanding of that event, both before and after the resurrection and rapture. None of these books stand alone and they do not contradict one another. The scriptures found in these different books of the Bible should add to the overall understanding of that prophecy. By taking all the different scriptures as a whole we get a more complete picture of this event.
Since Mathew chapter 24 is the Lords account and the most authoritative and thorough examination of the events leading up to the his return for his bride or Church; it is this chapter that we will center the study. We will harmonize it to all the other scriptures concerning this event in prophecy without causing any contradictions. Centering the study with Mathew 24 is very important because the events of that time are given by the Lord himself in the order in which they will happen.
The word of God does not contradict itself; if you find what seems to be a contradiction; it is because you have taken that scripture out of context and as a consequence you are misunderstanding it. Another reason for misunderstanding the scriptures is because many so-called “Christians” refuse to take the time to study the Bible with an open heart, so they are deceived by the lies of the false prophets, deceived preachers, commentators in Bible margins and books. One example of these false teachings is when they quote the Lords coming “like a thief in the night” (Mt 24:43 or 1Th 5:2) and interpret this scripture as if the world will sleep right through the resurrection/rapture of the church. They create a scenario that the Lord will sneak in quietly and be gone with the saints without the world seeing him. This false teaching gives “Christians” the idea that the world will not see the Lord when he comes for his bride. They completely bypass the fact that Jesus said that the thief would break up the house. (Mathew 24:43) You must ask yourself if you were asleep in bed, and a thief kicked in the door and broke up the house looking for something to steel, would you sleep through it? Unless you are deaf, the sound and disturbance would wake you up and you would see the thief in your house. That distorted interpretation contradicts every other example that Jesus gives concerning his coming for the saints. That false interpretation contradicts the example the Lord gives in which he says his coming will be like the flood during Noah's time that came upon the world when Noah was in the ark. (Mt 24:37-39) You can be certain that those people outside the ark new that they were drowning. Not one of the other examples that he gives can be understood as a “secret” rapture without serious distortion of the meaning of the words. The faithful and evil servants, the wise and foolish virgins, were all painfully aware of what was happening to them at that very moment. They heard and saw the Lord and groom.

continued in next post

[Benny]

The evil servant; the foolish virgins; people that drown in the flood; and the person that had his house broken up by the thief were simply not prepared for it, and thus it came upon them as a thief or a surprise. How can the world be saying “peace and safety” and then “sudden destruction” come upon them if it is secret and they are unaware of it taking place at the time? (I Thessalonians 5:1-9) How can there be “sudden destruction” or “as the days of Noah were” if it takes place secretly? Jesus gave these examples to get the elect to be alert to what is happening in the world, in other words to be watchful and faithful to his words. Jesus meant for the elect to carefully study his words concerning the last days leading up to his coming and apply those prophecies to world events. That is why he commanded for you to be as wise as a serpent. Let us use rational thought while applying a scripture for just a moment.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

This passage of scriptures were split into separate chapters in the wrong place. There were no chapters or verses when Paul wrote these words, they were added later. This is the last verses of chapter 4 and the first verses of chapter 5. They should not have been split into two different chapters at this point. They actually split the chapters in the middle of a paragraph.

So understanding this fact we can see something very enlightening. First thing we see is that Paul is speaking of the resurrection/rapture of the church or bride in verses 16,17. No one can dispute this point. Then he says that it will come as a thief. This is the same example that Jesus gives in Mt.24 referring to him coming for the church. Then in the very next sentence Paul writes “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Now this is what we have to think about. If the resurrection/rapture of the church comes secretly as some contend, then what is this reference to sudden destruction that they can not escape talking about? It sounds like the sudden destruction that happened to those left behind during the flood, which is also an example that Jesus gave concerning his coming for the church. Paul combined those two examples made by Christ because they were referring to the same event. His return for the church. So lets think about this some more. It can not be talking about a destruction caused by the anti-christ because Daniel makes it quite clear that the anti-christ will be a peace maker at least in the beginning. Daniel 8:25, 11:21. Those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture admit this as well. So what is Paul talking about? Could he be talking about after the tribulation when the Lord returns to rule the earth for a thousand years? That can not be the case for two reasons. First, Paul is addressing the resurrection/rapture and second because the verse says “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them”.




Anyone who has read Revelations knows the world could not be saying “peace and safety” while God's wrath is being pored out on the earth. According to Revelations millions die and millions are tormented during that time. And anyone that has read Revelations knows that the armies of the antichrist are gathered together to battle with Christ when he returns with the saints. Rev 16:16&19:19. No it cannot be when the Lord returns with the saints to reign. There is simply no other possible answer but that this reference is talking about when the Lord returns for his bride, and at that time God's angels will begin to poor out God's wrath on earth and the destructions described in Revelations. Thus there is not a secret resurrection/ rapture. The secret rapture is not scriptural, it contradicts dozens of scriptures. It is a lie that gives “Christians” a false sense of security and superiority.



First it must be noted that the word rapture is not in the Bible. This does not mean it is a false teaching. It is a term that has been applied to the resurrection of the dead saints, and the catching away into heaven of both the living and resurrected saints at the Lords appearing. This event is described in I Cor 15:51-53 and I Thes 4:16,17 which was quoting what Jesus said in Mathew 24:30,31 and Mark 13:26,27. Those verses also explain that the dead saints will be resurrected from the dead at this same time and caught up with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air. Jesus foretells his return for the church or bride, in Mathew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. St John foretells these events in Revelations chapters 6 and 7 and who will be included in the resurrection of the dead in Revelation 20:4-6. He gives warnings to the saints in Rev.13. There are other places in Revelations that speak of this specific time but these are the most extensive passages concerning this time, and we will deal with these for the most part in this paper. St Paul explains some of these events, in I Corinthians 15:51-53, I Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5, and most thoroughly in II Thessalonians chapter 2. Daniel foretells certain aspects of this event, in Daniel chapters 7-12.
One of the most powerful and deceptive teachings in Christendom today, is that Christians will not be here when the antichrist comes to power and his mark is imposed. There is nothing further from the truth. Many professing "Christians" completely refuse to see the real implications on ones faith that this heretical teaching has. I will point out a couple of the most obvious contradictions that are created by this pre-tribulation rapture theory.
Many false preachers and the deceived have for years preached about a seven year tribulation period. There is not one scripture in the Bible that mentions a seven-year tribulation. This reference is a false assumption based on the erroneous and contradicting interpretation that combines the seven-year or, week of years covenant made by the “prince” or antichrist in Daniel 9:27, and the term "great tribulation" used in Mathew chapter 24. This erroneous interpretation is the result of trying to force a “pre-tribulation rapture” theory to fit the scriptures while contradicting them at every turn. It is from this erroneous pre-tribulation rapture theory that the seven-year tribulation theory is promoted.
What the Bible says is that the antichrist or prince will make a seven-year covenant with Israel. In the middle or after 3 ½ years of this seven years or week of years in Daniel, the antichrist shall break the covenant and set up the Abomination of Desolation. This covenant or treaty will include the Old Testament Torah Law of daily sacrificing of animals at a Temple in Jerusalem. According to Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and II Thessalonians 2:1-4 the antichrist will break the covenant and take away the daily sacrifice and sit in the temple declaring himself to be God.



He then requires the world to worship him as God. This is called the abomination of desolation by Daniel, and Jesus refers to this in Mathew 24:15, Paul gives the explanation of what it is in II Thessalonians 2:4 and John refers to this worship and how long the beast’s power over the world will last in Revelations 13. (42 months or 3 ½ years)
Most believers in a pre-tribulation rapture accept that the "abomination of desolation" happens in the middle of a week of years located in Daniel 9:27 or after 3 1/2 years of what they call the "tribulation". But they say the church is resurrected and raptured at the beginning of this so-called seven-year tribulation, and before the antichrist gets complete power. This false teaching causes many contradictions in the scriptures. One contradiction is that Jesus puts the time of the "abomination of desolation" in Mt. 24:15 before the actual resurrection/rapture that takes place in verse 31. So to justify this heresy they say that verse 31 is speaking of when Jesus comes back with the saints to rule on earth. (Rev 19) By doing this they delegate the most important Christian event in history, (the resurrection/rapture) to some obscure undefined place in Mathew 24 before verse 15 which speaks of the abomination of desolation. Even though it is quite clear that Jesus is speaking of the Resurrection/rapture in verse 31. Paul clearly defines the resurrection and catching away or “rapture” in his letters to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians and goes into great detail describing that event. That event is described by Paul in I Thessalonians 4:16,17 and II Thessalonians 2:1-5 in the exact same sequence or chronology as it is described in Mt. 24:31 at the sounding of the "trumpet" the gathering of the elect from the heavens or sky.

Definition of chronology; “the sequential order in which events occur, or the arrangement of events in time.”

The most revealing contradiction of the pre-tribulation rapture delusion is the fact that they completely blind themselves to the inescapable truth found in Revelations 20:4-6. These verses plainly demonstrate two resurrections of the dead divided by 1000 years. The "first resurrection" is of the righteous in those verses, and has to be the resurrection/rapture event of I Thessalonians 4:16, 17. There is no escaping that fact. Everyone that believes in a resurrection/rapture understands this to be true. Here again the pre-tribbers bypass the fact that those that are resurrected in that “first resurrection” found in Rev. 20:4-6 are killed because they would not take the mark of the beast or worshiping the beast. How then can the church be gone in the rapture before the beast and his mark, when the rapture is at the same time as the “first resurrection”? If the church is already gone before the beast comes to power and the mark of beast is imposed, how did these that had their heads chopped off for not taking the mark and then get resurrected from the dead in that "first resurrection" which is at the same moment of the rapture? Those in Rev. 20:4-6 are members of the church that have the “witness of Jesus” and are resurrected from the dead and taken into heaven at the moment of the rapture of the church. To say the elect or church is already gone before the beast comes to power and the mark is imposed is a complete distortion of the chronological timeline. It is completely impossible to be killed for not worshiping the beast or taking his mark if you are already gone. It is truly like putting the cart before the horse.



A very important point to this study is how Revelations chapter 6 harmonizes with Mathew 24. The opening of the first four seals with the four horseman that harmonizes with Mathew 24:7; The opening of the fifth seal harmonizes with Mt. 24:9; And the opening of the sixth seal in Rev 6 harmonize with Mt. 24:29-32. The scriptures have to be speaking of the same event in time. There is no mistaking the fact that some of these events are only going to happen once in history. And any idea that Jesus would tell the events of the end of the world recorded in Mathew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 out of order is absurd. The word “Then” at the beginning of many of the verses in those chapters denotes chronology. In other words, he is telling the events in the order in which they will happen. The chronology is also apparent by the way he begins the end time’s prophecy in verse 6 "for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Then in verse 8 he begins to speak of the very end times "all these are the beginning of sorrows".
With Mathew 24 as the base line we can see how it harmonizes with other scriptures to understand what will happen, when they will happen, and, in what order they will happen.

continued in next post

[Benny]

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.

(The first line of verse 7 was fulfilled in WW1 and WW2. It is impossible for that verse to get more fulfilled than every nation on earth at war with its neighbor at the same time. This happening on two occasions as the verse implies by repeating itself. Verse 7 of Mathew 24 alone is describing what happens during the ride of the four horsemen at the opening of the first four seals in Rev. 6.

Mathew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation…”; Opening the first seal in Revelations 6;2 “a white horse… conquering and to conquer”

Continuing in Mt 24:7 “...and kingdom against kingdom.”, Opening the second seal in Revelations 6;3,4 a red horse… to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Continuing in Mt 24:7 “...and there will be famines…”, Opening the third seal in Revelations 6:5,6 “a black horse… A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny” These are extremely high prices for food at that time that this prophecy was written. It is like saying $50.00 for a loaf of bread.

Continuing in Mt 24:7 with “...pestilences and earthquakes in different places.” Opening the forth seal in Revelations 6:7,8 we have; “...a pale horse… to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”




The forth horseman in Rev 6 encapsulates the disasters of the horseman before him with wars, hunger, famines, and then adds “beast of the earth”. We now know through science that the viruses that cause diseases are made up of microscopic organisms or “beasts of the earth” The word pestilence from Mt 24:7 means disease. Scientists admit that earthquakes, diseases, and famines have greatly increased in their number and intensity in the last century compared to any other time in recorded history. The twentieth century alone saw more people dying because of war, disease and natural disasters then all the other centuries combined since Jesus spoke these words. We can see that this one verse of Mathew 24:7 covers the four horseman of the first four seals and no where else in Mathew 24 are these specific things mentioned. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)

Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

(Indicating that this last century is the beginning of the end, and these events begin the last day’s prophetic events and the last generation has already begun. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)

Mat 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

( NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture
The Young's Exhaustive Concordance translation and definition of the Greek word that was translated to English word “afflicted” in verse 9.

afflicted
G2347
thlipsis
thlip'-sis
From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

That word “thlipsis” is the exact same Greek word used in verses 21 and 29 in this chapter of Mathew that were translated “tribulation”. The words “afflicted” and “tribulation” are identical in the original gospel account of Mathew 24.

This is the begining the the “tribulation”

These are just some of the Bible translations that use the word tribulation instead of afflicted in verse 9; ****ytical-Literal Translation, Youngs Literal Translation, American Standard Version, and Revised Version. This all proves beyond any shadow of doubt that the “tribulation” begins in this verse not in verse 21 or 29. This passage has to be speaking of when the Antichrist and his world government comes into power, because it says “hated of all nations” That could not be fulfilled without a temporal or world governmental power to deliver them up. America, some European, South American and African Nations, still have religious freedom for now, but this will not last long. Revelations 13:7 says this about the beast. “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred’s, and tongues, and nations.



(How long will this power over all nations and his war against the saints to overcome them last?) Rev.13:5 “…and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” (3 ½ years) It says the same concerning this same beast in Daniel 7:21,25 “I watched, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them…And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one-half time.” “Time” means one year, “times” means two years and “one-half time” adds up to 3 ½ years. Source; Strongs Exhaustive Concordance. Daniel 7:21-25, 8:24, 11:33-35, 12:10-12) All of these verses quoted confirm these facts.

Here again the chronology of events is confirmed in the opening of the fifth seal in Rev.6 with the suffering and death of most of the saints in the last days.

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.)


Mat 24:10 And then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another.

(This scripture and other scriptures such as Mark's description this event “Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.” tell me that most professing Christians will betray the true elect of God along with their own families because of persecution, fear or feeling betrayed by God. They will feel betrayed by God because they believe the lies of the pre-tribulation rapture, and falsely believe they should not have to suffer for the Christian faith. So called “Christians” have refused to study the bible for themselves and continue to believe the sweet lies from the pulpit. The scriptures make it abundantly clear that Christians will and are supposed to suffer for their faith in Christ.
John 16:33, Acts 14:22, 1Pe 4:1, 1Pe 4:12, 2Cor 4:17 , 1Th 3:3, Rom 5:3 Many other passages can be quoted on this account. It is a fact that is undeniable. The Bible and history give us millions of examples of the fact that the prophets, the apostles, the early church and true Christians for 1900 years have suffered for their faith. That is why Paul wrote this verse while disputing with those that claimed there is no resurrection of the dead. “1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” It is simple without the resurrection of the dead at Christ's coming a Christians life is the most miserable of all people because of what they deny the flesh and what they must suffer for their belief.
Unlike what most preachers tell you there will be no revival in the very last days before the Lord returns. On the contrary the Bible says there will be a falling away or apostasy in the church in the very last days just as Jesus said in that verse, and Paul confirms it in this one when he writes of “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” in II Thessalonians 2:1-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…”) Here is John speaking of those so-called “Christians” that betray the true Christians.





Rev. 13:10 says “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Patience and faith are important fruits of the spirit to obtain salvation in Christ. You will find those words repeatedly referring to the attributes of the saints with the warnings of what they must face in the last days. NOTE; No mention of a resurection/rapture)

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will rise and deceive many.

(TV preachers and preachers in the pulpits that support an antichrist US government, that support and the antichrist Israeli state, and promote the false doctrines and teachings are certainly some of those false prophets that the verse is speaking of. NOTE; No mention of a resurection/rapture)


Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold.

(Turning away from helping strangers in need because you fear being robbed or worse. People who do that whether they be so-called “Christians” or not will go to hell as Jesus said in Mt 25:41-46. Apathy towards killing other nations people with bombs and bullets that have never attacked us, and the saying "I don't care" or “I don't want to hear it” or "What's in it for me?" These seem to be the dominant mindset of most so-called ”Christians” these days. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)

Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.

(This is not talking about being saved from a physical death, it is talking about being saved from the second death (Rev 20:6,14) for Jesus said in Mt 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
And the reference to "endure unto the end" is about longsuffering, patience and faith, which are fruits of the spirit of God and love. These two attributes seem to be in real short supplying among so-called "Christians" today. It also very important to note that “patience and faith” is repeated again and again in the scriptures as an absolute requirement for a saint to make it in the last days. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture.)

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come.

(Since the opening up of the Soviet Union and China the Gospel has been preached in virtually every nation in the world. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture.)

Mat 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).

(This scripture is very important to understanding the timing of events leading up to the Lords return. That is why the verse capped off with with “whoever reads, let him understand”. Daniel wrote in 9:27 “And he (antichrist Prince) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.”


In the "midst", or middle of the week of years, which is after 3 ½ years this peace covenant that includes Jewish Temple sacrifice in Jerusalem which will be broken by this antichrist prince. Daniel 12:11 says; “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” Verse 12 “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." Only God's elect or chosen are "blessed". This tells me that Daniel saw the resurrection/rapture taking place some 45 days after the abomination of desolation was set up, but the time he saw in his vision will be shortened by some days since Jesus said that those days would shortened. (Verse 22 in this chapter) These scriptures plainly show that this event is just over half way through the so-called “seven year tribulation”, and the previous scriptures confirm the persecution of the Christians up to this time. Paul confirmed the fact that the Lord will not come back for the Christians until after the abomination of desolation has occurred in II Thessalonians 2:1-5 when he wrote.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2Th 2:2 that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

Paul first refers to what was said by the Lord in verses 9 and 10 of Mt. 24 when he writes “first comes a falling away”. This is obviously speaking of those church members that betray the true elect among them because of the tribulation or affliction that comes against the church. The next thing that must happen before the resurrection/rapture or “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” is the abomination of desolation. Paul defines the abomination of desolation with “exalts himself above all that is called God…” and “sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God”. That definition is useful in understanding the prophecies located in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11 concerning the abomination of desolation. Paul places those two things in the same chronological order as the Lord did in this chapter.
NOTE; Absolutely none of the scriptures in Mathew 24 up to this point have said anything about the trumpet sounding, the resurrection/rapture or the catching away of the saints to meet the Lord in the air as Paul described the resurrection/rapture. Here we are half way through the so-called seven year tribulation period with the abomination of desolation and this fact even admitted by pretribulation rapture believers and still no mention of the resurrection or rapture of the saints.)

continued in next post

[Benny]

Mat 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Mat 24:17 Let him on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house;
Mat 24:18 nor let him in the field turn back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day;



(In these verses it is obvious to anyone that knows where Judea is, and understands Moses law concerning the Sabbath that the Lord is addressing the Jews in Israel in these passages. The Jews he is addressing are identified in Revelations chapters 7 and 14. These are the 144,000 Jews that his angels will seal in their foreheads, during or shortly after the resurrection/rapture and beginning of God's wrath. These 144,000 are the "remnant" prophesied by Isaiah, in Isaiah 10:22, and quoted by Paul in Romans 9:27 "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved." Remnant means a small number of them or what is left.
Most likely these Jews are the Haraites, a small Jewish sect persecuted by most other religious Jews in Israel because they refute the Talmudic concept of the Torah. They have not accepted Jesus as Messiah, but will accept him after or around the time of the rapture. Deuteronomy 4:30 These Haraites live by the Torah or Old Testament, and they hate pharisaic Talmudic Judaism practiced by orthodox Jews. I am sure that they will make up most of that 144,000 that will be saved from hell, but are left on the earth after the resurrection/rapture.
Revelations 7:2 "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4. And I heard the number of them, which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
The archangel Michael will protect the 144,000 from the Antichrist after the resurrection/rapture and while the "wrath of God" is being pored out on the rest of the world.
Daniel 12:1,2 "1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
Unlike the rest of the world, Israel must not be forced to take the mark of the beast for the first 3 1/2-years of Daniel’s week of years. This must be part of the peace covenant that the antichrist breaks in mid-week. Or the 144,000 "remnant" could not be saved as the following verse makes quite clear.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
It is after the antichrist breaks the covenant that he persecutes these Jews.)

Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.

(The word “tribulation” in these passages was translated from the Greeks word “thlipsis” which means; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. The word is used 45 times in the New Testament and is translated into the English words tribulation, afflicted, affliction, and troubled . 41 out of that 45 times it is describing suffering that Christians are going through, or will go through.


And two of the other four times it’s directed toward backslid Christians or Christians that have gone astray. Thus the word with the exception of a couple of times is almost always use in describing suffering of Christians. Many people differentiate between the tribulation or affliction that Jesus spoke of in verse 9 and this verse because of the adjective great. That word is not used in Marks version of this prophecy found in Mk.13. The word simply implies that tribulation, or trouble in the world will be intensified after the abomination of desolation.. It says nothing about God being the author of that trouble. Daniel chapter 11 makes it clear that the trouble experienced at that time is because of the antichrist.
Many preachers say that the church must be gone by the time of the “great tribulation” because the scriptures say that Christians are not appointed to wrath. That is true Christians are not appointed to wrath. The problem with that argument is that the word “wrath” is a completley different word with a different definition than “tribulation”. As previously quoted from the Strongs the word tribulation which comes from the Greek word “thlipsis” means; afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. The word “wrath” as found in this verse, I Th 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” comes from the Greek word “orge” Strongs #772;” which means; anger, wrath, indignation vengeance. These preachers interchange these words as if they were the same word and have the same meaning, which they do not. “Wrath” in those scriptures is describing God’s anger, whereas “tribulation” is speaking of the suffering of innocent Christians which is one of the main reasons why God is angry. The scripture is very clear concerning “tribulation” that Christians must suffer. John 16:33 In the world ye shall have tribulation:, Acts 14:22 …that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Now concerning the adjective “great” in this verse, some say it denotes a different affliction or tribulation than the tribulation or affliction of the saints beginning in verse 9. Although Mark 13 is almost identical with Mathew 24 the word “great” is not used in Marks rendition of these events. If it was to denot a difference in events it would not have been left out in Mark 13. Thus the word simply means that the affliction or tribulation of the saints will get progressively worse as the resurrection/rapture approaches. NOTE; No mention of a resurection/rapture)

Mat 24:22 And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

(The word “elect” is the Greek word "eklektos" meaning "chosen" and is used throughout the New Testament describing Christians. I believe the meaning of this verse is, if the Lord does not shorten the time of his coming, the few Christians that are still alive when he does return would be killed by the antichrist and his followers before he could rapture them alive. Thus there would be no rapture or catching away of the living saints, only the resurrection and catching away of the dead saints. NOTE; No mention of a resurection/rapture)


Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it.

(The Lord is warning you not to believe anyone that calls himself Christ that is standing on the earth. The scriptures say that Jesus will be seen in the air by the whole world to catch away his bride or church to go into heaven to the wedding supper.



Rev 19. Only after the bride has attended the wedding supper in heaven will he return with the saints to set foot on Mt Zion in Jerusalem. While the Lord and the saints are in heaven at the wedding supper his angels are poring out his anger or wrath on the earth for at least 3 ½ years. This is also the time that Gods angels are protecting the 144,000 Jews on earth from the antichrist, Rev.7. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)


Mat 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.

(This is a passage that harmonizes with Rev. 13:13 “And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” I believe this scripture is speaking of the star wars system spoken of by Reagan that was called S.D.I. or Strategic Defense Initiative, in which lasers or particle beams are fired from satellites in ****e. The media propaganda said that this was meant to protect us from missile attack but it can be used to target anyone anyplace in the world. They flew over thirty shuttle missions in the nineteen eighties and early nineties designated "military top secret" and they continue to upgrade those systems today. NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)


Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you beforehand.
Mat 24:26 Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, He is in the desert! Do not go out. Behold, He is in the secret rooms! Do not believe it.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered.

(In these verses Jesus is warning us that when he comes back for the "elect" or Christians, he will not set foot on the Earth at that time. He will be seen in the sky to "gather together" or resurrect/rapture the Christians to go to the wedding supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19. Where else but the sky would the Eagles be gathered together? Many do not know that eagles are solitary birds that do not flock together as other birds do. They "gather together" while mating, and the mating takes place in mid-flight. So don’t be deceived into believing the Antichrist or anyone else is the Lord. He will not set foot on earth the next time he is seen here. The Lord also makes it quite clear that everyone will see, and hear his coming in verse 27. Everyone has seen lightning overhead, and heard the thunder that follows, especially if it stretches from the east all the way to the western sky, even in-doors you can hear the thunder. There is no secret rapture. The passage of scripture that hypocrites twist to their own destruction is about the thief that breaks up the house. Would you sleep through your house being broken up? Or would you wake up and investigate? That verse is talking about people not paying attention to the signs of the times, and being caught unaware! NOTE; No mention of a resurrection/rapture)

Mat 24:29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.




Mat 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When its branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.

(Now we see what has not been mentioned up to this point in the events of the last days, the resurrection/rapture.
Let us see how many scriptures harmonize with the event mentioned in these verses. The specific things that are prophesied in these passages happen only once in Bible prophecy.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief.

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